Photographic type composition



Sept. 19, 1961 R. c. OBRIEN PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed July 24, 1957 Ihozmj INVENTOR;

RICHARD c. OBRIEN 0% mm 3 3 .3 N2 Q2 2 Q H. mm m mu NEE J 92096! W N Q.wmzoczw I M0505 205558 H 500 359026 wm mm on wwwyw ATTORNEYS Sept. 19,1961 R. c. O'BRIEN 3,000,279

PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION Filed July 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I lweak "85 k "80k Had "8e K [30a 130a l30c 130.1 a 130k I42 Lz o-1;INVENTOR ATTORN EYS RICHARD C.O'BRIYEN BY United States Patent 3,000,279PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION Richard C.l OBrieu, Cleveland, Ohio,assignor to Harris- Iutertype Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Filed July 24, 1957, Ser. No. 673,934 I 11Claims. (Cl. 954.5)

This, application relates to phototypecomposing, and

particularly to apparatus providing for the use of unusu-al'or picharacters in the process of composing a line.

The present invention is especially useful in connection withphototypesetting machines which employ a matrix disk' carrying thecharacters as portions of differential light transmitting ability suchthat passage of a light beam through thedisk will result in animage-bearing light beam. The matrix disk carries all the usualcharacters, but it is a difiicult and time consuming operation to addcharactersto the disk in properly aligned relation, and often there isno available space on the disk for such added characters.

More important, theunusual or pi characters (as they are referred to byprinters) are needed only in the ex ceptional job, or at infrequenttimes, and thus it is really unecon'omical from both a time and spaceconsumin standpoint to place them on a matrix disk. 1

' Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide forthe use of pi characters in phototypesetting equipment.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide for introduction of a lightbeambearing a character image into the main optical system of aphototypesetting apparatus and thus to provide a special character inproper point set withoutneed of additional optical equipment for thatpurpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide for introduction ofspace code information related to the pi characterinto the spacecomputing mechanism of the phototypesetting apparatus for proper spacingof the pi character in the composing operation.

An additional object of theinvention is to provide for use of relativelylarge plate-like members having transparent and opaque portions defininga desired character, with these members bearing space code indicia forindicating the spacing requirements of that particular character, andthereby to simplify the construction of a character defining member.

0 Other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent fromthe following description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the -drawings- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustratingphototypccomposing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in'which lightbeams carrying special characters are introduced into the optical'systemof the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a pi character plate and itsassociated frame;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the manner in which the space codeinformation obtained from the frame of FIG.- 3 is introduced 'into theapparatus of FIG. 1, and also showing how recording of the specialcharacter from the plate is initiated;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the connection between the space codereceiving apparatus of FIG. 4 and the respective stages of the countershown schematically in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe presentinvention, FIG. 1 is a schematicrepresentation of a highspeed phototypesetting apparatus including a rotating matrix diskcarrying the .pickup '40.

characters to be reproduced as, for example transparent portions in asignificant zone of predetermined radial depth on the disk. Thecharacter zone is represented in FIG. 1 by the character A. In otherzones of the disk there are a series of timing marks 12, one for eachcharacter on the disk, and in a further zone there is a single referencemark 13 the purpose of which is to supply an initiating pulse. Inanother zone a binary space code related to, and identifying therelative width of, each character is supplied in the form of a series oftransparent dots 15 on the disk, shown for purposes of illustration asrepresenting a five digit binary code. It will be apparent, of course,that the marks, dots, and characters on the disk may be eithertransparent or opaque, so long as they contrast with the background areaof the disk.

The overall arrangement of the apparatus is generally similar to thatdisclosed in copending applications Serial No. 380,802, filed September17, 1953, now patent No. 2,846,932 and Serial No. 640,741, filedFebruary 18, 1957, now patent No. 2,944,472, assigned to the sameassignee as this application.

In' general, the arrangement of the apparatus is as follows. A flashinglight source of high intensity and short duration is provided, such asby the spark gap 20 controlled by the spark control unit 22, and thislight source is arranged to illuminate the character zone of the diskthrough a lens 23, with the resulting image-bearing light beam beingfocused through a lens system 25 upon a record film strip 28 which issupported across the light beam between film drums 29. Thecharacter-image I bearing light-beam passing to film strip 28 isintercepted by a space prism system 30 controlled by a suitable transducer 32 for displacing the light beam with respect to the film stripwithout altering the focus thereof. Such a' prism system is described indetail in copending application Serial No. 661,633, filed May 27, 1957.V

A further flashing light source 35 connected to a space control unit 36,is arranged to illuminate the space code dots 15 through a lens 37, andthe resulting one or more small light beams passing through the diskfall upon a bank of photocells 40' which provide a space code pickup.

The information from the space code pickup is supplied to a space memorycomputer 42, this information being used to preset the later stages ofthe binary counter (the N counter in FIG. 4) as disclosed in detail insaid copending application Serial No. 380,802. The remaining or firststages of the space memory computer (the P counter in FIG. 4) are presetby a suitable point set control 44, so that the output through line 45represents the product of the point set and the required space for theilluminated character as transmitted from the space code A lamp 5'0 andlens 51 direct a light beam through the zone of'timing marks 12, theresulting pulsating light beam falling upon the photocell 52. Thepulsating output of this photocell is directed through an amplifier 53'and through a delay circuit 54 into a selector counter 55, as describedin detail in said copending application Serial No. 640,741. A furtherlamp 57 and lens 58 direct a light beam toward the zone of the indexmark 13, and the resulting light beam falls upon the photocell 60 onceduring each rotation of the disk 10, thereby providing an index fromwhich the location of any selected character on the disk may bedetermined by counting the number of timing pulses occurring after theindex pulse. The output of photocell 60 is connected through amplifier62 to selector counter 55, and is arranged to reset the counter to azero count to provide the desired index or reference point. The count inthe selector counter 55 is, then, indicative of the position of eachcharacter on disk 10 with reference to the index mark 13.

A suitable keyboard, such for example as the keyboard 3. 65 of atypewriter, is arranged to actuate a bank of permutation switches or thelike indicated schematicallyat 66, and these switches are arranged toprovide binary code, information identifying the selected character to atemporary. code storage 68 comprising a bank of binary stages equal, innumber to the stages of selector counter 55. The information.- in code.storage 68 is supplied; through; its. output 69 to a; coincidencecircuit 70; andthe output 71 of. selector, counter 55. is likewisereceived in the coincidence; circuit. Thus, when the codeinformationincodestorage: 68 corresponds to the. count of selector counter 55, anyoutput signal will be transmitted through the. coincidence output.72 .toagsuitable gate circuit 75', as more fully, explained,insaidicopendingappli cationSerial No. 640,' ZY4I,

Gate circuit 75. also receives. undelayed timing pulses directly fromamplifier53 through line-76,- andthuswhen an output signal passesthroughgcoincidenceoutput 72 the outputline; 78, of the gate circuit,will transmit a;--tr ig'g er pulse; on; the nextreceived timing pulsefrom line- 76. The trigger pulse is; supplied. to 'a pulse generator 80'forthe purpose'of starting the same, and the trigger pulse alsoistransmitted through liue 82 to the; spark control unit 22 and spacecontrol unit-36 ;for flashing the light source 2 and 3 5, respectively.This; causesthe light source. 20 tar-illuminate the; selected characterand the resultant character; image is recorded on'the'film st'rip28.

At-the same time, spacecodeinformat-ion is supplied to .thepiclcupapparatus 405 and-ris used to :set. upthe space memory: computer 42,the. point set control havingbeen- Set m n al ef e s t he e ireds ze fphe: p v generator 80has its. output- 85 connected; to a space mem orycounter.88, and line 8 5;1s-a lso connected'through a; line 89 to thespacememorycomputer 42 The output n 5: il ie pacem mory. mput r is in rnon-- n ed. ac o-.'p .se. nera lp y a p: pulse her t ndth sa te h ace memy mn a n d at umb r. Q utput puls s from; r o 0 equal to h R T dUP a o th p int se ndi e? pa e requi m tei h r le tedch r ct r image, e-pu se n-I tQ BMS s pped, AS aJ uItfI s e num riof pu ses r nsm t ed' epac emeryoun .8 s a digital representation ofi the space required fortheselectedhar ct r. at e-. e. ;r .d.:poin set i g,

Space memory; counter 88 is a multistage binary counter, one embodiment1 of; the invention having usedathi-rteen stage counter-'for thispurpose, The-,first seven; s. 1 f s. unter ar onnect to the p s spacingansd er hro gh he o put'i onn cti-onfi -r n l' e h.- ageof ce n r: .8:is. connected h u hrfin 1 tput-line92 to arfi'lm,advancetransducer 93whi'ch-controls rotationofyone; of the film-reels 29 1 to; advance thefilm strip-28; with respect to theimage bearingdightbeamthroughpredeterminedvlargespace increments,

As more fully explained in said copending application; Serial \No.166.1',633',,filed2 May 27, 1957; the :garrangernent oi!- tthe parts; is;such :that tone, pulse: fed ;into 1 space ,mernoryt-countertfisaisrequal tooneV 2 ,-of;:a pica, an small. discrete,space; measurement 'is :referred; to 113116111;- after as alspace;unitnor apiclet Therefore, the first; seven;- stages, Of? space memory,counter; 88 handle spacing re quirements from w to; of a; pica andtransmit"- this; spacing information through output-903m the prism;controllingl transducer 32: Movement; of the spacing; prismsystem1-30tthus controls all spacing requirements up to, one spaceunitaless than; a: full pica, The output line: 92 transmits e a pulseito the film advance transducer 93; onlytwhenethespacing'requirementsequal or exceeiia full; pica, and;thearrangementofiithis transducer is such (as; explained int. copending;application Serial, No, 661,633.; filed- May. 27'; 1957) t that for;every P11156116)- ceived 2 through line :925the film. strip; is.advanced through a; distance 50f one picatzandc thesprisrn-v system; is,I read-z justed accordinglyz. The:.advance.portion ofi th'e 7 strip: is,heldnstationary l during the .composingt ofieacsingle 4 r line by theindex punch, indicated generally at 24, and when the spacing movement ofstrip 28 is complete for one line this punch is releasedf and the filmadvanced into the take-up reel, as more fully explained in saidcopending application.

The capacity; of space memorygcounter 885's; preset by a suitable line:length control95soe that-when the c'ounter 'which must be dividedbetween theword, spaces .in theline to justify. v I

Spaces between words are. inserted inuniformlength in this apparatus,and these spaces" later are, adjusted in suitable-justifying'apparatusoperating; fiom code informa- I tion carried on the filmstrip. 28;, asmore-fully, explainedv in said copending applicationSerial No. $0,802.: Thus, whenever the: word :space-bar on the; keyboardis -actuated; a pulse is fedthroughzline, 102; to a word; space memory:counter 1,05, and such pulse alsofispassed through line 106 to the filmadvance transducer 93; causing. the film strip to be advancedthroughasuitablewordspacing movement. Counter isa further. binary. counter, forexample a fivestage-counter; Itsoutput'. 108: extends to a suitable codelamp panel 110 arrangedladjacent the film strip 28, and. a furtheroutput, 1121mm, spaceimemory counter 88 also extends topanel 110..Thepurpose of this arrangement is to providea,scoreboardwhichindicates,in suitable binary code, theunused spaceremaining in theline, and,the-numbenoffwordspacesin the: line (from counter 105). At the end ofeach line the code on,

panel 110xis' projected ontothe, fi1rn ,,.strip:to.. provide a permanentrecord of thisinformation thereon as aser-ies of code dots. I

The general overall, arrangement. oi, the phototypesetting device,therefore, provides for flashingglightibeams, bearing character imagesin.selectedfsequencealong the main optical axis of the. device asdefinedbytthe lens system 25 and space prism: system; 30;, Atjthe. same time,

the code information related to the spacing (requirements for eachcharacter image, as it islselect ed, isqpassed. through the space codepickup 401 to. the: spacermemo 'y, computer 42, and from there tothe;space memory, counter. 88 which in-turnprovides, actuatinggsignalsiforthe: spacing. transducers 32,.and, 93, respectively Opera tion of thesetransducers ,results inrelativermovement bfetween the main optical axisand the filmstriplsfto-iprovide thev necessary spacing for. eachcharacter recorded on the strip,

In; composing operations, itq oftene-is} necessary to, use

an-unusual character, such torexample, as: az'key sign or-some-othercharacter which, is foutof the. ordinary. For purposes of example inthis application the unusualchanacter, referred to byprinters-asagpi.character, is shown as a hand with pointing indexfinger. Such; apharacter.

isshown in FIG. 3 and will jberfurth erl-described inconnection with thedevice illustrated therein.

The matrix! disk- 10' in-phototypesetting. apparatus oh the type underconsideration --here carriesthe. usual character images such asnumerals, upper a litlQwen case letters, andother common characterssuch. as periods,

commas, colons, sign andthe like: 6 However, itwould.

be diflicult to remove the matrix diskrand construct, api

character thereon even if there were spaces on the disky provided forsuch-purpose. Inaccordance with: themesenti invention, however;vsuchzjpi characters meyebainser edt separately; fromethcamatrix disk 3ld;.11fliy?bQ onstructed:

Thus, referring to FIG. 3,;a pi character plate 113 is shown bearing thepi character image 114, and the plate 113 is carried within a frame 115having a number of finger-like projections 116 extending from one edgethereof. The pi character is defined by transparent and opaque portionsof plate 113 which may be illuminated to provide a light beam bearingthe pi character image.

Alongthe side of plate 115, a number of projecting fingers 116 arearranged in predetermined spacedrelationship. These fingers areused torepresent the spacing requirements of the pi character in a binary codewhich for purposes of illustration is shown as a five digit binary code,similar to the space code dots 15. Thus in the form shown there arefingers in the first, third, and fifth positions representing the binarycode number 10101. Obviously a different pattern of fingers will providea diiferent code number.

Referring to FIG. 2, the plate 115 is supported by suitable means showndiagrammatically at 119 in front of a,

light source 120 which serves toilluminate the pi char.- acter platethrough a suitable lens 121. The fingers 116 rest upon switches 118a-e,there being one switch for each finger position on a pi character plate.The character image bearing light beam passes from frame 115 through alens system 122, and from this lens the light.

beam passes to a reflectingsurface 125 provided by a prism or mirror oranother suitable light reflecting device which will pass the picharacter image-bearing light beam into the main optical system of theapparatus, and thus through the main lens system 25. The image plane oflens system 122 is located at the same distance x from the main opticalaxis as the distance of the reflecting mechanism 125 from the matrixdisk 10, the latter distance being designated x on the drawing. In thismanner the image of the pi character is properly in focus when it passesinto the main optical system of the apparatus and from thence onto thefilm strip 28. Any suitable mechanism, such as track 126 and mounting127, may be used to move the reflecting member 125 into and out ofalignment with the main optical axis of the apparatus, if it isnecessary that this surface be removed during normal operations whenlight beams are passing through matrix disk 10. Another possibleconstruction is to provide a half-silvered mirror as the reflectingmember 125, and thus light beams passed from disk through such a mirrorwould not be appreciably reflected or deflected, while the beams fromthe pi character plate would be reflected along the main optical axis.

Referring to FIG. 4, the individual space code switches 118d-e aregrounded at one side, and closing of one or more of these switches isarranged to provide a binary code signal as follows. A bank of pentode's130a-e, for example typ'e 6AS6, are arranged with their plates 130Pconnected into the last five stages of the space memory computer 42, atypical one of such connections being shown in FIG. 5. The cathodes ofeach of the control tubes are grounded, and the first control grids13061 are normally maintained at a negative potential through a voltagedividing network including resistors 132 connected to a potential belowground, for example of the order of 75 volts, and resistors 133connected directly to ground. The switches 118 are arranged to bypassthis negativebias and thus to bring the first control grids up toapotential of approximately the same order as the cathodes, and in thisparticular type of tube such a change in control grid potential issufficient to provide for conductanceprovided that the second controlgrids are not cutting off the tubes.

. The second control grids 130G2 are all connected through a condenser135 to an initiate switch 138 which is of thesingle-pole double-throwtype. In one position, as shown, this switch connects directly to groundand the potentialof the second grid is thus low enough, in combinationwith a grid 130G1 at negative potential, to cut Qfitihtfi, tu'pe In, itsother position switch 138 is arranged 6 to supply apositi'v'e pulse froma source of positive poten tial.139, tothe grids 13062 through condenser135, thereby providing for conductance ofwltichevcr of the tubes a-e isnot cut off by its first control grid. Switch 138 is controlled, asindicated schematically at 141, by a timer 142 the operation of which isinitiated by the pi button switch 144. This switch may .be located uponthe keyboard 65 if desired.

Thus, when the pi button is pushed, assuming that a pi character plateis in place, the pi character is photographed, and after the timeroperates the last five stages of space memory computer 42 will be. setup by the pi space. control tubes .130a-e. This sequence occurs asswitch 138 is moved to its grounded contact and a negative pulse is fedthrough condenser into a voltage dividing network including resistor 145which is connected to a source of negative potential, and resistor 146which is grounded. This negative pulseis ignored by the alreadynegatively biased network. After the pi character .is photographed,timer 142 returns switch 138 to the illustrated position and a positivepulse is passed through condenser 135. This brings the second grids oftubes 130a+e to .a positive potential and those tubes will conduct whichhave their first grids grounded through closed switches 118a-e.

In addition, a positive pulse will pass through condenser 147 to afurther voltage dividing network including resistors 148 and 149. Ahinitiate control triode 150, having its cathode 150C connected toground, has its' control grid 150G arranged to be held normally at apotential below ground, but when a pulse from condenser 147 causesinitiate tube 150 to conduct, a starting pulse is passed from outputcondenser 152 into the line 78 connecting the coincidence circuit 70 topulse generator 80. Thus the pulse generator is started and continues tosupply pulses to space memory counter 42 until an output pulse therefromthrough line 45 stops the pulse generator. The first six stages of thiscounter are arranged to be preset by the point set control 44, as morefully described in copending application Serial No. 380,802.

The manner in which the pi code bank of tubes 130 is connected intocomputer 42 'is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein one of the last fivebinary stages of computer 42 is shown generally at 160, and the inputconnection thereto from an associated photocell in the code pickup bank40 is shown as coming through an input triode 162 and input line 163which leads to the plate P at one side of the dual triode within thestage 160. As is well known in the art, when a signal passes throughline 163 the balance of the flip-flop circuit is upset and the stage ispreset, as by causing that side of the circuit including plate 1601 toconduct. In the same manner, an associated pi character control tube 130has its plate connected to line 163 through a line 164, and the input tothe counter stages from tube 130a-e through lines 164a.e (FIG. 4) willbe apparent upon consideration of the drawing and in view of the aboveexplanation of the operation of the pi character code bank.

The timer 142 is connected to control light source 120, and thus whenthe pi button is depressed the light source is actuated and a light beamcarrying the pi character image is introduced into the main opticalsystem of the apparatus, as previously described. Immediately thereafterthe computer 42 is set up in accordance with the information relating tothe spacing necessary for the pi character, and this informationtogether with the point set information determines the number of pulsestransmitted through line 85 to the space memory 88. The space memory inturn actuates the transducers 32 and 93 to provide for the requiredrelative movement between the main optical system of the apparatus andthe film strip 28. The spacing. necessary for the pi character is thusintroduced into the apparatus at the proper time.

It should be noted that the pi character plate is of relatively largesize. For example, a practical embodiment of this invention may employ aslide of approximately 4-x- 6 inches. In. this way: his arelatively'simple matter whichiis then transmittedtotherecord strip 28;At-the:

same-time, it is also-a simple matter to insert the proper space codeinformation intot-the mlachinemerely bypro viding the proper number offingers 116 in the proper places; all in accordance with: the binaryspace" code systenrused; These fingers-can beprovidedi as detachableelementsiff the same frame,=' 115 isused for a number of pi characterplates; or it'istexpedientxto store-"the pi character plates in theirsown individual frames, then the,

fingers 116- can be" provided; as 'integral" or permanent attachmentsto. the appropriate edge of-frame 115$ While the formiof apparatusherein described consti tutes apreferred embodiment of'the invention, itis to be under-stood'ithat theinventionismot limited to-this preciseform o-Eapparatus; and that changes: may be made therein without:departing from the scopeof the invention whichv is: definedinithe'appendedi claims;

'Whatis claimed 'is 1; Apparatus fon use ina=phototypesetting device havingaawtype matrix-and a primary optical system through which imagebearing light beams are passed" from the matrix fror recording onphotosensitive record material, said device alsoincludingmeans forproducing relative movement between the optical system and the recordmaterial'- ins accordance withathe'spacing requirement-s of theprojected characten images; comprising a pi character plate having:transparent and opaque portions defining apicharacter and 2 also ha'vingcode indicia related to the spacing: requirementsof the-pi character;means for iliuminating saidr iplateto provide a light beam bearing a picharacter image, means for directing said pi character" image'into saidprimary optical system for recording on t saidtrecord material; means-for'sensing'the code indicia on saidplate, and means connecting said,sensing means intosaid: spacing movement producing means for insert ingthe spacinginformation related to the picharacter into-said device'andproviding proper spacing: therefor in conjunction with the recordingoperation.

2. In combination with aphototypesettingdevice having atype matrix and aprimaryoptical. system, through which image bearing light beams-arepassed from-said matrix for recording on photosensitive record material,

said" device alsoincluding means for producing relativemovementbetweensaid"optical system and the record material, said movement producing.-means including acomputer for calculating-the required. spacing for eachcharacter from spacing -'information received from said matrix and-transducer'means operatively arranged to receive information from saidcomputer and-toanove said recordmateri-alaccordingly through thenecessary-spacing movement, a pi character plate-having-transparent and'opaque portions defining a-pi' character and also having sp-acecodeindicia related to-thespacing requirements of the pi character,means for illuminating said plate to provide a light-beam bearing apicharacter image; means for directing-"said pi= character image intosaid" pr'im-aryi optical system -for recording onsaid record material;means" for sensing saidspace code indici'a on said plate; and means-connectingsaid' sensing means to said computer'forsuprilying spacinginformation to said: computer related tothespacing requirements" of thepi character.

3'. In combination Withphototypesetting apparatus having a type matrixcar'ryingia plurality of characters of related size and a-priinaryopticalsystem through which image bearing light beams are passed fromthe matrix:

for recording in selected. sequence, photosensitivematerial mountedlto.recordlimages transmitted thereto; said' pirmary opticalsystem-includingm'eansufor controlling the. sizesofitherecordedjmage, means forproducing relative; movement betweenw. saidy pticalz system" and; t

said characters on said matrix, means: for illirminatingt said plate toi provide a light beam: bearing a piichara'ctert image, means fordirecting said" pi character: irnaj'ge: bearing light beaminto saidpril'nary: optical system and through said size controlling; means to recordthe p'i character on said record material" proper size rel ati-on' tothe other character imagesbeing recorded-dun; mg a typesettingoperation, and means for supplying spacing information related to therequired' width 'of said pi character" to: said movement producingmeans--fon" causing requisite spacing-'rnoveme'nt for saidpi cllaracterr4, In combinationwith phototypesetting appjaratus' having a type matrixand a primary optical system through which image bearingli'glit beamsare-passed from the-matrix for recordingontphotosensitivemecor material,said primaryoptical system including means 'fo controlling the size ofthe recorded images; means r e producing-relativespacingfmovementbetween Sha na-: m y ptical system ain i-"said record material iniac'cordance with spacingfrequirern'ente of each projectedchar acterimage; said movement producing-- means inclhdi-ng apparatus"fortransmitting'j co'de-- data representing the relative spacingrequirements of 1 each-character image 5 saidmatrin, meansfor"registeringcoderdatarepreseri the point settingof, saidsizecontrol'ling meansi c putingmeans' having inputs connected to sa'iddatai tr" mittingjmeansand to said data registering means for;calculating the required-spacing -of eachgcharacter from such data,connections -from'said computingfmeans to" supplycontrolling informationto: said spacing movementproducingmeans; a pi character platehavin'gftrans parent and'opaque portions definingapi character; me ns;for illuminating said-plate to providea light beam bear ing a picharacter image, means for directing said character image bearing beaminto said" primary 'op'tlcalf system and through' said size controllingmeans to record the pi character on-said record material in proper sizef relation to the other character images being recorded." during atypesetting operation, and means forsupplyingf said computing" meansWith code data representingthei relative spacing requirements of saidpi-character image for computation 'of' spacing control informationcorre spondingto the required sizeof said .pi character;

5. In phototypesetting apparatus of the character d'e scribed thecombination of a selectively operable light. source;'me ans for defininga light beam issuingfrom said source, a character plate havingtransparenttand opaque portions defining a character to 'bereproduced;n'l'eans for supporting photosensitive. record material inpositr n; to-intercept' said' light beam, means for mounting jsald" ,1plate in'position intercepting said light" beam to provide.

a character image bearing light beam directed onthejf record material,means for producing relative movement between saidrecord material;supporting' ineans and" the image bearing; light, beamto provideforspacing ofisuccessively' projected character. images onv saidprecordmaa j terial', means providing space code data on. a marginali' portionof said plate, for identifying the necessary relative. width of thecharacter image projected onto theire grdf material, pickup meansforreading said code d'a'tat'fr'om said plate, and computing'meansreceiving space code'f information I from said pickup meansforcalculating the; Width necessary for proper spacing of thecharacterimage, said computing means having an='output to'= s-aid*movement producing means' for causingspacing movementre'lated'to theprojected? character image.

65. In phototypeset-ting:apparatus of the character de scribed thecombination of a plate having portions of differential light:transmitting ability defining a' characteri tot befirepr'bduc'ed;selectively operable means forillumi nat'tugtsaid-iplat'e ;-toiproduceant image bearing light beam photosensitive record material forrecording the character image, means for directing said beam onto saidrecord material, means including a transducer and a computer controllingoperation of said transducer for producing relative movement betweensaid light beam and said record material to space successively projectedcharacter images on said record material, means on said plate definingdigital space code information identifying the width of the characterdefined on said plate relative to the widths of other characters in aselected type style, pickup means for reading said space codeinformation, said pickup means having an output connection to saidcomputer, gate means in said output connection for controling the supplyof space information to said computer, and means connected to saidilluminating means and to said gate means for coordinating the openingof said gate means with operation of said illuminating means.

7. Phototypesetting apparatus including a type matrix and a primaryoptical system through which image bearing light beams are passed fromthe matrix for recording on photosensitive record material, said primaryoptical system including means for controlling the size of the recordedimages, means including a transducer and a computer controllingoperation of said transducer for producing relative movement betweensaid primary optical system and said record material in accordance withspacing requirements of each projected character image, a plate havingportions of differential light transmitting ability defining a characterto be reproduced, selectively operable means for illuminating said plateto produce an image bearing light beam, means for introducing theresultant character image from said plate into said primary opticalsystem and through said size controlling means, means on said platedefining digital space code information identifying the Width of thecharacter defined on said plate relative to the widths of the characterson said matrix, pickup means for reading said space code information,said pickup means having an output connection to said computer, gatemeans in said output connection for controlling the supply of spaceinformation to said computer, and means connected to said illuminatingmeans and to said gate means for coordinating the opening of said gatemeans with operation of said illuminating means.

8. Apparatus for use in a phototypesetting device having -a type matrixand an optical system through which image bearing light beams are passedfrom the matrix for recording on photosensitive record material, saiddevice also including means for producing relative movement between theoptical system and the record material in accordance with the spacingrequirements of the projected character images, comprising a picharacter plate having transparent and opaque portions defining a picharacter and also having portions bearing indicia related to thespacing requirements of the pi character, means for illuminating saidplate to provide a light beam bearing a pi character image, means fordirecting said pi character image into said optical system for recordingon said record material, means for transmitting to said device spacinginformation corresponding to said indicia, and means connected to saidspacing movement producing means and responsive to receipt of saidspacing information for inserting the spacing information related to thepi character into said device and providing proper spacing therefor inconjunctionwith the recording operation.

9. In phototypesetting apparatus of the character described thecombination of a selectively operable light source, means forming alight beam issuing from said source, a character plate havingtransparent and opaque portions defining a character to be reproduced,means for supporting photosensitive record material in position tointercept said light beam, means for mounting said plate in a stationaryposition with respect to said light source intercepting said light beamto transmit a character image on said light beam directed to the recordmaterial, means for producing relative movement between said recordmaterial supporting means and the image bearing light beam to providefor spacing of successively projected character images on said recordmaterial, means providing space code data on a marginal portion of saidplate for identifying the desired relative Width of the character imageprojected onto the record material, pickup means for reading said codedata from said plate, computing means connected to said pickup means toreceive space code information therefrom for calculating the width forproper spacing of the character image, and an output from said computingmeans connected to said movement producing means for causing appropriatespacing movement for the projected character image.

10. In combination with a phototypesetting device having a type matrix,a primary light source, and a primary optical system through which imagebearing light beams are passed from said matrix for recording onphotosensitive record material, said device also including means forproducing relative movement between said optical system and the recordmaterial, said movement producing means including a computer forcalculating the required spacing for each character from spacinginformation received from said matrix and transducer means operativelyarranged to receive information from said computer and to move saidrecord material accordingly through the necessary spacing movement, a picharacter plate having transparent and opaque portions defining a picharacter and also having space code indicia related to the spacingrequirements of the pi character, a secondary light source forilluminating said plate to provide a light beam bearing a pi characterimage, means for directing said pi character image into said primaryoptical system for recording on said record material, means for sensingsaid space code indicia on said plate, and means connecting said sensingmeans to said computer for supplying spaoing information to saidcomputer related to the spacing requirements of the pi character.

11. Phototypesetting apparatus including a type matrix, a primary lightsource, and a primary optical system through which image bearing lightbeams are passed from the matrix for recording on photosensitive recordmaterial, said primary optical system including means for con trollingthe size of the recorded images, means including a transducer and acomputer controlling operation of said transducer for producing relativemovement between said primary optical system and said record material inaccordance with spacing requirements of each projected character image,a plate having portions of differential light transmitting abilitydefining a character to be reproduced, a selectively operable secondarylight source for illuminating said plate to produce an image bearinglight beam, means for introducing the resultant character image fromsaid plate into said primary optical system and through said sizecontrolling means, means on said plate defining digital space codeinformation identifying the width of the character defined on said platerelative to the widths of the characters on said matrix, pickup meansfor reading said space code information, said pickup means having anoutput connection to said computer, gate means in said output connectionfor controlling the supply of space information to said computer, andmeans connected to said illuminating means and to said gate means forcoordinating the opening of said gate means with operation of saidilluminating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,901,013 er Mar. 14, 1933 2,210,090 Lutz Aug. 6, 1940 2,232,732 RogersFeb. 25, 1941 2,646,732 Offeman July 28, 1953 2,667,812 Miller Feb. 2,1954 2,800,062 Rondthaler July 23, 1957

